Shadows of Asphodel Read Online Free

against the wall. “I come from a long line of Prussian nobility, but I still managed to inherit bad blood.”
    Prussian. Well, that explained the flawless German.
    “It’s inherited? The necromancy?”
    He shrugged. “Apparently a great-great-great grandfather of mine had the talent, but he didn’t live for long. We rarely do.”
    Ardis was afraid to ask why.
    “You said nobility,” she said. “What family?”
    Wendel’s jaw tightened, and he narrowed his eyes. “They aren’t my family now. They disinherited me years ago.”
    “For being what you are?”
    He arched his eyebrows, and she felt stupid for even asking. “Yes.”
    She wondered if he sounded so bitter because he had been the heir to a great fortune. Prussian nobles were all rich, even younger sons.
    “And you?” His voice sounded lighter now, almost bantering. “Your family?”
    A knot tightened in her stomach. “My mother came from China.”
    “And your father?”
    She shrugged. “I never met him. He wasn’t Chinese. Obviously.”
    Wendel nodded and glanced at her hair. She felt her cheeks warm, and she wished she didn’t look foreign wherever she went.
    “I assume your sword also came from China,” he said.
    “Yes,” she said. “It’s called a jian .”
    Ardis drew Chun Yi halfway and let the light glint off the battered old blade, highlighting the two characters engraved just below the crossguard. She couldn’t read Chinese, but she knew they must be name of the sword.
    “These are the characters for Chun Yi,” she said. “Pure Justice.”
    Wendel raised one eyebrow with an impeccably sardonic look.
    “And how exactly,” he said, “did Pure Justice happen to fall into your hands?”
    “Family heirloom,” she said, which wasn’t entirely a lie.
    “Heirloom?” His eyes glinted. “Shouldn’t that sword be hanging over a mantelpiece?”
    Might as well tell him the truth. It might even intimidate the necromancer.
    “It was,” she said. “Until I killed a man with it.”
    He laughed, then grimaced. “Don’t make me laugh.”
    Wendel’s hand hovered over his ribs. Ardis could see how much it hurt him just to breathe. His lips looked vaguely blue.
    “I’m not joking,” she said. “I didn’t think I could kill anyone until he was dead.”
    That caught his attention.
    “Did he deserve to die?” he said.
    She stared fiercely at him. “He wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
    He narrowed his eyes, then closed them and shivered.
    “Are you cold?” she said.
    His eyes stayed shut. “It’s winter. We’re all cold.”
    “Cold from the blood loss.” She balled her hands into fists and slid closer to him. “I could get a medic for you now.”
    Wendel opened his eyes. “Ardis,” he said quietly. “The medics have done enough.”
    “But he was right. You need a new bandage, and—”
    “Later.”
    Ardis started to stand. “Let me—”
    The necromancer caught her by the wrist, and his icy fingers shocked her. The fact that he was touching her shocked her even more.
    “No,” he whispered. “They will only ask more questions.”
    Ardis stared at his hand on her skin, felt the pressure of his grasp on her wrist bones, and her heart drummed in her chest.
    “They don’t know who you are,” she said.
    His stare was intense, his eyes vivid with determination.
    “It isn’t too hard,” he said, “for them to find out.”
    Ardis swallowed hard and glanced around the zeppelin. Nobody seemed to notice them, or the way Wendel’s touch was making her feel. She had to pretend it didn’t bother her. His hands were strong and slightly calloused. She could imagine they belonged to a normal man, but she had seen what he had done with them.
    “Fine,” she said.
    Wendel let go of her, and her skin tingled where his fingers had been. She wanted to rub her hand, but she didn’t want him to see.
    “If it bothers you,” he said in a low voice, “my hands are clean.”
    Ardis forced herself to meet his eyes. “You know